Association of type III collagen turnover with cardiovascular outcomes and impact with canagliflozin in the CANVAS Program: A post hoc analysis

Abstract

AimTo investigate type III collagen (COL III) turnover in participants from the CANVAS Program biomarker substudy.MethodsBiomarkers of COL III formation (PRO‐C3) and COL III degradation fragments (C3M and CTX‐III) were assessed in baseline and year 3 plasma from patients enrolled in CANVAS, investigating the effect of canagliflozin in participants with type 2 diabetes. The clinical outcomes investigated in this study were hospitalization for heart failure, cardiovascular death and all‐cause mortality.ResultsHigher levels of PRO‐C3 and C3M at baseline were associated with an increased incidence of all investigated outcomes, whereas levels of CTX‐III at baseline were not associated with any of the investigated outcomes. Levels of PRO‐C3 decreased and levels of CTX‐III increased following canagliflozin treatment. An increase from baseline to year 3 in PRO‐C3 in the placebo arm was associated with an increased incidence of cardiovascular outcomes, and in all participants was associated with an increased risk of all‐cause mortality.ConclusionsThe changes in PRO‐C3 and CTX‐III reflect a shift in the dynamics of COL3 turnover following treatment with canagliflozin. These biomarkers are promising pharmacodynamic tools that can be used to monitor the impact of canagliflozin treatment and possibly other sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 inhibitors on tissue remodelling in future interventional trials.